Cavatappi with Sundried Tomatoes & Cannellini Beans

You know how people go on and on about how you only need a few good ingredients to make something that tastes great? You know how I am, in fact, one of those people? Well, a recipe like this basically exemplifies that notion. It absolutely could not be easier, the ingredient list is very short, but it’s really flavorful.

I’m not sure what amount of pasta is used in the original recipe, but I’m guessing a pound. I used 8 oz. of pasta, so I halved the ingredients Adam listed – except for the garlic, because we love garlic. I also used 1 can of cannellini beans, which I think is probably closer to 1/3 of a lb. (at least, from a bag of dried cannellini beans you’d cook yourself) than 1/2 lb, but I think it was a good amount.

The beans give this pasta a nice meaty texture (and combined with whole wheat pasta, you definitely get a fiber boost!). I’m really glad I put extra garlic in this because the nice toasty flavor of it really came through.

Cook the pasta until al dente in salted water. Set aside 1.25 cups of the cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, heat the oil from the sundried tomatoes and the olive oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and fry it for about a minute before adding the red pepper flakes, and toast those for another 30 seconds or so. Spread the sundried tomatoes out in the skillet and allow them to sizzle for a minute. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Keep it simmering until it reduces down by half.

Add the beans, the remaining 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and some salt to taste. Bring to a boil and then cook at an active simmer for four minutes. Stir in the pasta. Add the parsley and then, off the heat, add the romano/parmesan. Season with freshly ground black pepper and, if you want, drizzle the plated pasta with some good extra virgin olive oil.

This is one of my favorite vegetarian quick and easy dinners! I first tried it right after Adam originally posted it, and we’ve used it as a go-to recipe ever since. I like that there are so few ingredients that I never forget one if I have to stop at the store on the way home! It’s especially amazing with the semi-dried tomatoes we sell at the Chopping Block… I’m addicted to them!